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Please note: The Warkworth Maple Syrup Festival Committee cannot insure and is not responsible for the accuracy of the information contained in the following press reports.

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How sweet it is, Warkworth Maple Syrup Festival turns 25

Festival features show to honour Sandy Flat Sugar Bush owners

Feb 16, 2011 - NorthumberlandNews.com
John Campbell, The Independent

WARKWORTH - Every year the Warkworth Maple Syrup Festival celebrates the harvest of Canada's most famous spring crop with a two-day event that attracts thousands of visitors to the Sandy Flat Sugar Bush.

This year's festival, slated for March 12-13, is extra special - it's celebrating its 25th anniversary.

“It hardly seems possible when you look back that we've been doing this for so long,” Carol Hamilton, the event's co-chair, told guests at a media lunch and preview Feb. 10.

“It does seem hard to believe it's been 25 years,” said Trent Hills Mayor Hector Macmillan. “I can recall bringing my children here, all four of them, and now I bring all my grandchildren. The event is certainly a way of life. It is a celebration of spring coming and another harvest."”

Two special events have been planned to mark the festival's milestone.

Thanks to a $17,200 Heritage Canada grant, there is a show written and directed by Michael Nitsch in honour of the festival's hosts, George and Alice Potter, owners of the Sandy Flat Sugar Bush. The grant is also making it possible for Spirit of the Hills to host simultaneous presentations by three artists on March 5, a week prior to the festival. The three - photographer Gary Mulcahey, hand-felted artist Maureen Harding and landscape artist Harry Stooshinoff - will offer illustrated talks on the how and why of their art at the Warkworth Town Hall Centre for the Arts, St. Paul's United Church and Percy Masonic Lodge, respectively, from 2 to 3:30 p.m.

'How Sweet It Is: The Potters, The Music and The Maples' not only looks at the couple's long history of producing maple syrup, it also pays tribute to their years of performing together. Mr. Nitsch has written some original tunes as well as grafted new lyrics onto familiar songs for the 70-minute show that will be held at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church March 10 at 7 p.m.

“I thought it would be a great challenge and a lot of fun, and it's turned out to be both,” said Mr. Nitsch, who interviewed the Potters to gain inspiration for the show.

“They're wonderful people, genuine people,” he said.

The retired educator who taught civil engineering at Loyalist College co-wrote 'The Magic Ornament' with Westben artistic director Brian Finley who is handling the vocal and instrumental arrangements for Mr. Nitsch's original compositions.

Performers include members of the Westben Festival Chorus and the Percy Swingers square dancers, and a six-piece pit band led by Andy Thompson.

“We really feel honoured,” Ms. Potter said of the show.

“Music has played a great part in our life for as long as I can remember.”

Ms. Potter played tenor sax in her husband's big band orchestra and then learned to play the upright bass for the smaller group that continues to play at various functions in the area. The couple will celebrate their 55th wedding anniversary this August.

Producing maple syrup started out as a hobby for the Potters but it became a big deal when festival originators recognized what celebrating the making of maple syrup could do to promote economic development in the area. This year the Potters will collect sap from slightly more than 5,000 taps on 50 acres of maple trees, hoping for a 100 per cent crop, like they did two years ago, when each tap produced enough sap to produce one litre of finished maple syrup.

Ms. Potter takes great delight in the annual festival because it involves the entire community.

“It's just wonderful,” she said. “I enjoy seeing people come to our sugar bush and enjoy themselves. I have had so many people say, 'Hello, Alice, when I come here, it's just like coming home,' and that is the most wonderful compliment I could ever hear.”

Admission is free, courtesy of the Heritage Canada grant, but a ticket is required to take in the show. Tickets are available at Eclectic Mix.

The festival will once again offer an array of activities to appeal to all ages. They include snowshoe and plank races, a log sawing competition, square dance demonstrations, clog and step dancing, and trail walks at the sugar bush. The village will be the site for juried art, craft, artisan jewelry and antique shows as well as indoor mini golf and a petting farm. All will take place between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday.

Last year for Warkworth Maple Syrup Festival chairs

Carol Hamilton, Brenda Partridge poised to pass down reins
Feb 16, 2011 - NorthumberlandNews.com
John Campbell, The Independent

WARKWORTH - This will be the last year co-chairs Carol Hamilton and Brenda Partridge co-ordinate the Warkworth Maple Syrup Festival.

Ms. Hamilton took over the reins from festival co-founder Sylvia Binkley 20 years ago and Ms. Partridge joined her five years later. Each year they could count on around 200 volunteers to help out with the festival, including members of the Warkworth Community Service Club who handle cooking pancakes and sausages.

The committee pays for the gas that fuels the shuttle buses that run continually from Warkworth to the sugar bush five kilometres west of the village but C. Smith bus lines provide the buses at no cost and the drivers volunteer their time.

"That's something that really deserves a lot of credit," Ms. Hamilton said.

The largest attendance they can remember turning out for the two days was more than 8,000 two years ago; last year's numbers were the worst, when it rained both days, she said.

Weather isn't the only factor in determining the size of crowds, she said. The festival is also held the same weekend the clocks move one hour ahead. That doesn't mean much to local residents but it makes a huge difference for people getting up Sunday morning who live in the city, Ms. Hamilton noted.

The festival committee's shoestring budget of less than $5,000 has a huge impact on the local economy.

"It's a great thing for the community," Ms. Hamilton said, but especially for the merchants, who look forward to a surge in business after a tough January and February.

"It makes the work worthwhile," Ms. Partridge said.

Sometimes the spin-off from the festival isn't felt for a year or two, Ms. Partridge added, noting people have relocated to the area or opened up businesses locally as a result of attending the event and falling in love with the community.

She said visitors often tell them they like coming out to the country to enjoy what the festival has to offer.

"I think a testament to the festival is the fact that is multi-generational. We have now parents and grandparents who are bringing their offspring," Ms. Hamilton said.

The transition to new leadership shouldn't be difficult, said Ms. Hamilton. "It's a fairly well-oiled organization that works very well," she said.

The women said they began preparing for their departure two years ago when they started work on a manual their successors can reference.

After devoting so many years of hard work to the festival, they plan to spend their time taking it easy when the festival rolls around next year.

Rick Norlock Delivers Arts Funding for Warkworth Maple Syrup Festival

Nov 15, 2010 - NorthumberlandView.ca
Written by: Rick Norlock, MP

Trent Hills, ON, November 15th, 2010 - Today at the Warkworth Town Hall Centre for the Arts, Member of Parliament Rick Norlock delivered news of funding from the "Local Arts and Heritage Festival" program through Heritage Canada, on behalf of Canadian Heritage Minister James Moore. To celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Warkworth Maple Syrup Festival, $17,200 is being granted for special events, taking place just before the festival of March 12th & 13th, 2011.

"Our Government is proud to support the Warkworth Maple Syrup Festival," said Minister Moore. "By partnering with communities to support activities that celebrate our shared history and our rich cultural diversity, we are fulfilling our commitment to strengthen our communities and support arts, culture and heritage."

"The Warkworth Maple Syrup Festival highlights Canada's role of producing about 80% of the world's supply of maple syrup and is a great celebration of Warkworth's local heritage and traditions," said Rick Norlock, MP. "It is my pleasure to share in today's good news with the fine people of my home community, Trent Hills.

"I would like to thank the organizers of this family-friendly festival who draw together the people of Warkworth while encouraging tourism, which benefits many volunteer organizations and area businesses."

Co-convenors of the festival, Carol Hamilton and Brenda Partridge, express their gratitude to Heritage Canada for the financial contribution which enables two special events for the 25th celebration. Linda Greenwood of the festival committee reports that "the grant allows Spirit of the Hills Arts Association to launch the festivities on Saturday, March 5th, with public presentations by local artists, including illustrated talks on their work, on the creative process and on living through art in the contemporary world." Kim MacNeil also of the festival committee is co-ordinating a show entitled "How Sweet It Is: The Potters, The Music, The Maples" that will follow the lives of George and Alice Potter, owners of Sandy Flat Sugar Bush and celebrate their wonderful contributions to the community. Local performers will bring stories of the Potters? music, entrepreneurial spirit and sugar bush to life on stage at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church in Warkworth on Thursday, March 10, 2011. There will be no charge for tickets.

The Government of Canada created the Building Communities through Arts and Heritage program in September 2007. This program provides Canadians with more opportunities to take part in local activities that present arts and culture and celebrate local history and heritage and will benefit many community events and celebrations throughout Canada this year.